Sir Nigel Sheinwald, the new ambassador to Washington, has been put in charge of the negotiations.

A senior diplomatic source claimed that the UK was seeking a major role and that plans to base a radar tracking station and interceptor missiles on British soil had not been ruled out. "Everything is still on the table," the source told The Mail on Sunday.

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed yesterday that missile defence would be one of Sir Nigel's top priorities when he took up his post.

She added: "Britain is giving its full support to US plans to site its missile defence system in Europe. Britain has regular discussions over our possible role but talks are at an early stage."

Britain began speaking to America earlier this year while Tony Blair was prime minister. In July, Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, signalled increased UK support for the project. He said: "Missile defence systems are just that — defensive."

A US air force base, probably RAF Lakenheath, would likely be used. The £24 billion defence shield was developed from the 1980s Star Wars programme that planned to destroy any multiple rocket attack from the Soviet Union.

Rather than shooting down dozens of rockets, this system would take out only one or two missiles in space with 16,000mph interceptors.

The US, which already has silos in Alaska and California, claims it could provide protection from "rogue states" such as Iran and North Korea, but Russia says it will trigger a new arms race. Critics have also expressed fears that hosting the system could make Britain a target for terrorists.
 

Speculation has centred on the installation of an X-Band missile tracking radar here in the UK, and the possibility that interceptor rockets could be located at a US air base in the UK, possibly RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

In a written statement on the last day before the Commons summer recess, the Government announced that it had approved a US request to use the Menwith Hill spy base in Yorkshire as part of the system. It also confirmed that the radar at RAF Fylingdales had also been upgraded.

An X-Band Radar, used to precisely track a missile course (in contrast to the wide-field view of the Fylingdales radar) would either be located at an existing US base such as Menwith Hill near Harrogate, or on a floating platform in the North Sea, similar to an oil rig. An existing Sea Based X-Band Radar, used in the Pacific, has been given the designation ‘SBX-1’ implying that further vessels will be produced.

It has been reported that the new British Ambassador to Washington  - and Tony Blair's former foreign policy adviser - Sir Nigel Sheinwald, has been tasked with negotiating a key role for Britain in the project. A Foreign Office spokesperson has confirmed this, stating that "Britain is giving its full support to US plans to site its missile-defence system in Europe. Britain has regular discussions over our possible role but talks are at an early stage."

The suggestion that talks ‘are at an early stage’ indicates that further as-yet unannounced components may be based in the UK, in addition to those already confirmed.

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said, “We demand an urgent Commons debate on Missile Defence and insist that any decision on UK participation must be made by parliament. It is a disgrace that the government is secretly negotiating to place more US military assets in this country. The overwhelming majority of the public wants to see a more independent foreign policy. The Government has consistently misled Parliament and the public about Missile Defence in the past – it must not repeat this duplicity.” [see notes 4 and 5 for Des Browne and Tony Blair denying any request had been received and stating there would be a debate when necessary]

She continued, “The previously announced installations already put us in the front line in future US wars. But if the interceptor rockets are stationed at the US Air Force base at Lakenheath – a site with 110 US nuclear bombs  - any attempt by those hostile to the US to knock-out this system could result in millions of UK deaths. And all this is for a system that far from being defensive, will allow the US to wage war free from the fear of retaliation.

Ian Gibson, MP for Norwich North, who has the US base at Lakenheath a number of miles from his constitutency said, “There is clearly a lot of debate around Missile Defence. In the light of the new democratic Parliament with the new Prime Minister, it is important that we have a frank and transparent debate where we are able to learn all the facts and act accordingly.” [see note 5 for a letter from 27 MPs on this subject]